Completed insert set – 2012 Gypsy Kings

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I’m now moving on from my Archives posts to cover completed sets. This will take up quite a bit of blog time – I’ve completed a lot of sets and neglected final posts for them! I am just about wrapped up the “master set” for 2012 Gypsy Queen. In fact, I’ve completed the base set and the inserts, I just want to get the 3 baseball card minis passed out at the 2012 National Convention.

The final insert set I completed from 2012 Gypsy Queen is the “non-baseball” insert set. It’s a play off the Gypsy Queen idea – called “Gypsy Kings”. Just like in 2011, Topps put together a group of fake people into the insert set. Some think it’s kind of stupid, but I guess it’s at least something different. I guess I was OK with it, but was also glad they stopped doing it in 2013.

Info about the set:

Set description: There isn’t a description on the sell sheet for this set, but basically the set features a bunch of made up players for a Gypsy King baseball team. There is some far-fetched writing on the back, usually describing some crazy thing that the particular Gypsy King player did. The cards feature a brown background and what I would say is a pretty nice design.

I think the Gypsy Kings are all Topps employees who have posed in old school baseball uniforms for the set. There were also autograph and relic versions of the cards – moving from fake cards to fake autos/relics.

Set composition: 12 cards, 1:48 (2012 Gypsy Queen)

Hall of Famers: None – these aren’t real people!

How I put the set together:

1 card from a hobby box

2 cards from trades

1 cards from a card show

8 cards from Sportlots/COMC

Thoughts on the set: I collected it because it wasn’t that difficult, but it’s definitely odd. I like what they did this year with Gypsy Kings better than last year – at least it’s a fake baseball team, not a fake band of gypsies. It’s mildly interesting to read the backs.

Card that completed my set: #GK8 – Aladar the Cruel

I got this card from a Sportlots purchase a few months ago.

Highest book value: All the same

Best card (my opinion): #GK12 – Savo the Savage

I like the Chuck Norris ism in the write-up on the back of this card. “A runner once tried to steal home by knocking Savo to the ground. That man died.”